Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Intersex List of Demands

This list was written in 2004 by some intersex activists in Atlanta. It is a good list, and gives great advise for anyone who wants to be understanding and not accidentally offend intersexuals, so I decided to post it.

INTERSEX LIST OF DEMANDS

Don’t assume you know someone’s sex based on how you perceive them or their gender.

Don’t assume all women have a vagina, uterus, etc.

Don’t assume all men have a penis, testes, etc.

Don’t fetishize our bodies.

Don’t use the word hermaphrodite to describe us unless we identify that way and give permission.

Realize that bodies come in all different shapes, sizes and with different parts.

Realize how fucking strong we are to speak up about the medical abuse and victimization we have been through and that we deserve mad props.

Don’t write us off as rare and unimportant. Don’t put off educating yourself for other “more important” issues.

In situations such as gender caucuses, keep in mind that not all the people who identify as women have similar genitalia, etc. Understand that we have been taught that our bodies are “wrong” and “ugly” and that it reinforces this when people say they love being women because of their vagina, uterus, etc., this reinforces those feelings. Woman does not necessarily = female. Man does not necessarily = male.